Thursday, January 1, 2015

December Memories

During our furlough in the USA I am posting photos to highlight and document the precious memories we are making each month. This post features our December memories, and what a special and memorable December it was!

We are now a family of four, and finally we made it back to the USA again for this special time of year. It has been such a blessing and treat - especially for our girls.

We took many photos during this month, but here are just a few of my favorites!

We started the month of December with a quick trip to Raleigh, NC to meet with a dear friend, who is serving as our financial coach. We are very thankful for all the financial advice we received while visiting him.

While we were busy talking and working on stuff, our kids played together.

Here's a fun shot of all the kids sporting their Brazil shirts!

While in Raleigh, we also went to a Frozen birthday party and Sophia got to meet Elsa!

We then went back to Rock Hill, SC and celebrated my mom's birthday!

A sweet moment of Grammy surrounded by her beloved grandchildren.

We got a Christmas photo with all the cousins!

The girls have absolutely loved spending time with their cousins during this trip.

We were blessed with an all expenses paid, three-day family trip to the North Carolina mountains, where we saw snow!

A sweet photo of Sophia from the trip.

We went Christmas caroling, visiting a few ederly home-bound church members, with a group from Bethesda Presbyterian.

We also enjoyed worshiping the Lord and celebrating the Christmas season at Bethesda Presbyterian Church. I even sang together with my parents in the choir at the special Christmas service!

A shot of my dad singing in the choir.

Reading Luke 2:1-7, as a part of the Christmas service.

At the Christmas Eve service Sophia dressed up as an angel and sang proudly (and loudly) as a part of the Christmas program. You could hear her singing above all the other children. It was quite funny! Sophia stole the show!

A photo of the Candle-lit service. This is one of my favorite things about celebrating Christmas in the USA.

Singing "Silent Night" outside the church on Christmas Eve.

My beautiful Christmas angel!

The girls baked Christmas cookies with Grammy.

And we took fun photos in our pajamas in front of the Christmas trees!

On Christmas day we enjoyed opening presents and spending quality time with family! We were having so much fun we hardly took photos.

We celebrated New Year's Eve with my sister Becky and her family. Sophia loved the sparklers and fireworks!

Happy New Year!

We are thankful for God's faithfulness in 2014, but we are super excited about 2015!

This is a year of new beginnings for us, because this is the year we move to Sao Paulo, Brazil to establish a new ministry to children at risk. If you have not read about it click over here to read more!

We wish you a Happy New Year and may God lead us all to new discoveries and ultimately to know Him more in 2015. May God bless you in this new year!